Peggy Morgans

Jens,

You are right – my business is to-the-trade. However my current quoting process is very similar to yours. I offer three options: 1) Quote and fabricate based on the designers specs (no measure fee) 2) Quote based on the designer’s rough measure. My measure fee is included in the quote and invoiced with the project. and 3) Measure before the quote and invoice for the measure separately prior to the measure appointment. I instituted this policy to end the practice of my running all over town measuring jobs that never happened. I still quote jobs that never happen but at least I am not spending the time measuring, too.

90% of my designers give me rough measurements, digital photos and fabric selections for quoting (option 2). Once the job is sold, then I go for a final measure. It is unusual for the price to change significantly between the first quote and the final quote but the detailed fabrication specs do change — for example I estimated a 47″ wide valance with an 18″ long point and 14″ short point and the final fabrication specs are 46″ wide, 17″ LP, 15″ SP. Then I check the yardage calculations so make sure they are still good. I struggle with how much effort I put into the quote — right now my process is to put the rough specs, the yardage calculations, and the fabric specs (width, VR, HR and a jpeg of the fabric) on my fabrication sheet that I give to the seamstresses) I do this paperless via GoodNotes. Then if the job comes through, I update the form with the final specs. before printing I go back and forth on doing a “back of the envelope quote” and only spending the time for the next step after the job is sold. But I have found that if I wait to do the fabrication sheets, I have to spend more time figuring out what I was thinking for the original quote — in essence doing the same thing over again. This dilemma is the same with hardware – back of the envelope or more detailed so that when the job is a go, it is easy to do the purchase order without all the re-thinking.

Like you, I struggle with how I can teach a new employee this process — especially an employee with little window treatment experience. I know there is a better way — Vita is proof of that!! I have to wrap my mind around how to implement it. I’m not super adept at spreadsheets but I realize that the calculations I make for yardage and labor are repeatable and therefore could be put in spreadsheet formulas. But then I get sidetracked with what ifs — what if I am pleating to pattern on my panels? What if I am making the folds on my roman taking the vertical repeat into account? What if? What if? What if?

See why I was in a funk?!? Haha. Even with all this swirling in my head, I’m going to take in the next three classes and then decide on my implementation plan. Really looking forward to Thursday, too.

I worked on my overall process flow chart this weekend and decided to color code it like Vita’s. Although I don’t like what I see (way too many blocks are colored for the owner!), the color coding is really helpful to identify specific processes that need to be documented so that ultimately I can delegate those tasks.

I agree 100%….great class, great start.